Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir are making headlines once again, but this time it’s not about their cricketing prowess. Following a disappointing tour in the UK for the T20 format, all eyes turned to India’s
practice session at Edgbaston, where it was noted that the two didn’t exchange a single word.
Despite the head coach mingling with several senior players, there was a noticeable lack of interaction between Kohli and Gambhir throughout the session. Instead, Kohli dedicated his time to extended batting practice in the nets. Later, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had a chat with him before discussing strategies with Gambhir, which has sparked fresh speculation.
The absence of interaction quickly became the biggest talking point before the series opener. Kohli is returning to Indian colours after missing the Afghanistan series due to a hamstring injury suffered during the IPL 2026 final while representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru. His return adds experience and confidence to an Indian side looking to recover from recent T20I setbacks against Ireland and England.
Virat Kohli, Gautam Gambhir Controversies Over the Years
The buzz around the latest episode stems from the history between these two players during the IPL. The first significant showdown took place back in 2013 when Gambhir's Kolkata Knight Riders went up against Kohli's Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Kohli scored 35 runs while chasing a target of 155, but as he walked back to the pavilion, he had some choice words for the KKR players. Gambhir jumped in, and things quickly heated up until Rajat Bhatia stepped in to break it up. Both players ended up with official warnings under the IPL Code of Conduct.
Fast forward a decade to IPL 2023, and the rivalry flared up again with Gambhir now mentoring the Lucknow Super Giants. This match followed a previous intense encounter between the teams, and emotions ran high after RCB managed to defend a total of 126, winning by 18 runs in Lucknow. Kohli had already been in a verbal spat with Naveen-ul-Haq when Gambhir joined the fray during the post-match handshakes.
The IPL governing body didn’t hold back, slapping both Kohli and Gambhir with the maximum fine, 100 percent of their match fees, while Naveen got hit with a 50 percent fine. These incidents continue to influence how fans view the dynamic whenever the two find themselves in the same dressing room.
